A coffee shop is taking over the former Phil Aull Studio on Providence Road.

Why it matters: Husband-and-wife duo Tim and Susan Johnson aim to preserve the beloved yellow house — once known for decades of wedding photography — into Crescent Grounds Coffee.

Context: The Johnsons, former owners of Johnson Beer Company, have lived in the neighborhood for years and had their eye on the property long before purchasing it this spring.

• "This particular building is pretty much a Charlotte landmark," Tim Johnson says. "It's a beautiful old house, and we're preservationists. We live in a 1915 home down the street, so keeping this piece of Charlotte's history alive was really important to us."

What to expect: The menu at Crescent Grounds is still being finalized but will feature dessert-inspired espresso drinks, cold foam beverages, nitro cold brew and coffee made with beans from a local roaster. To start, the shop will offer pastries, with plans to eventually add sandwiches.

The vibe: Think national park visitor center. Crescent Grounds is aiming to feel warm and welcoming, with a large wraparound porch overlooking Colonial Park.

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Sip Happens is the latest cocktail bar to open in Uptown's Brevard Court.

Catch up quick: This strip has gained quite a few businesses this year from a bodega bar to a country dive bar.

• Tiny Bar opened with convenience store-style snacks, drinks, tobacco products and more.
• Spurs Up Saloon, which was formerly Crafty Beer Guys, has a ski lodge meets dive bar vibe, with "a splash of Nashville."
• Crisp Kitchen and Cocktails, the popular casual salad spot formerly inside Latta Arcade, has a new, two-story space.

What to expect: Sip Happens, opening in the former Masti Indian Restaurant & Bar space, plans to add a lounge atmosphere to the mix.

• The first floor is designed to have a more social vibe and drink menu with about eight classic cocktails plus beer, wine and some mocktail options. They also serve lunch items like wings, flatbreads and sandwiches.
• The upper level is still being renovated into a dining room with booth, table and bar seating for about 45 people. It will open by next week for dinner to offer a mix of Southern and Creole cuisine.

Stop by: Find Sip Happens at 128 Brevard Ct. It's open Sunday through Thursday from 11am-midnight and Friday to Saturday 11am-2am.

More Brevard Court updates

A new game shop called Good Game is opening in Camp North End.

Context: The new business will be the second concept from the owner of stationery store Good Postage.

What to expect: Good Game will sell board games, card games, trading cards, accessories and more. It'll also host monthly and weekly gameplay events.

• The 818-square-foot shop will lean into the theme with an exterior painted like a giant game die, plus oversized dice and a Queen playing card as a nod to the Queen City. In the back, a trading card bar will offer a selection of Pokémon cards.

What's next: Good Game is expected to open in September in the Keswick District at 701 Keswick Avenue, Suite 103.

Speaking of Camp North End, we recently spotted this cute Little Free Library.

Zoom in: Swap out an old read for a new one. You can start a new chapter at That's Novel's next Silent Book Club on Sunday, July 19 from 9:30-11am.

• If you can't wait until next week, find some time to meet up with other readers at one of the many local book clubs across Charlotte.

If you go: Find the Little Free Library next to Ford Green, where they're doing the outdoor movies close to La Bodeguita.